I do not own the Teen Titans.
For those who don't know, I used Starfire's home world as the name for the port. Happy reading.
"God, I hope he hurries up," Eric said watching out for the old man. "It's getting late."
"Calm down boy," one of the drunks chuckled, this time not sounding quite as drunk. "He was here past nightfall last night."
"Yeah, but if he comes early, then we get to hear more of the story," he said eager.
"Maybe he wont come at all," the second man shrugged as he started to put a few logs on the fire.
"Dont upset the lad, Phil," the other man said looking at the upset on Eric's face.
"Just saying, John," Phil said as he sat back a little.
"I'm here lads, don't get you're panties in a twist," the old man chuckled to himself as he walked over to them.
"About time," Phil said as Eric jumped round in excitment.
"Now," the old man said as he sat down on one of the rocks. "Where did we get up to?"
"Garfield had met up with the black smith and Steve the donkey," Eric rushed out as he seated himself not far from the old man.
"That's right," he said as he sat down. "And Nightwing and Kori had been enjoying each others company, unknown to them all the danger that was aproaching. It was the early hours when a large ship began to close in onto Port Tamaran. The ship, although not the largest, was still very deadly. It sailed in quietly and thanks to its chard black wood and navy blue sails, it was almost unseen at night. An invisable ship."
"Was that's Slade's ship?" Eric asked.
"No," John said shaking his head slightly. "The Four Swords was a rich red brown with orange and black sails."
"That's right," the old man nodded. "This was not Slade's ship. This ship was called the Noble Sea Dragon."
"Never heard of it," Phil said as John also looked unsure.
"Not surprising," the old man said taking out his pipe and filling it. "It was intended to be unheard of. Less attention ment less trouble from authorities. It was a silent attacker that only attacked at night. By the time it's pray realised what was going on, it was already being attack, unable to react quick enough to counter attack. Most would have no choice but to surrender."
"And who, if I may ask, was the Captain of this marvellous ship?" John asked finding such a ship hard to believe.
"Captain Hunt," he said as John raised an eyebrow.
"Captain A. Hunt?" Phil asked.
"I know that name," Eric asked thinking.
"So you should," Phil said. "He was a great hero. He took on the Four Swords. Only man to ever fight Captain Slade and live."
"She and she wasnt always a hero," The old man corrected.
"She?" Phil repeated.
"Yes, Captain Hunt was a she. Captain Alice Hunt," the old man said as Phil now eyed him. "And, she was a pirate before she was a hero."
"How can you say that about one of histories finest?" Phil asked in outrage.
"No one knows the true identity of Captain Hunt. Thier's no record of her past to say she wasn't a pirate. She was just a pirate who was unknown to the world and in the wrong place at the right time," he said as both John and Phil started at him.
"Prove it," John said.
"I can not," the old man shrugged. "All I can do is tell you my story and let you choose for yourself."
"Go on then old man," Phil said as everyone went quiet and got ready to listen.
"As you wish," he said lighting his pipe and taking a few puffs. "As I was saying, a dark ship called the Noble Sea Dragon sailed through the waters towards the docks. It stayed close to the rocks in hopes of not being seen. The sails were tied down so no sudden wind would blow them into the dangerous rock and then they dropped anchors. All lights were out on board as the men waited patiently. Captain Hunt was watching out to sea, surveying the area…
…"Captain?" a man asked as he approached Alice Hunt.
He was a tall and a well built male with a blue baggy shirt and long black hair.
"What, Garth?" Captain Hunt asked in a strong, British accent.
"Anchors have been dropped and the ship is secure," he said looking up at her.
"Good," Captain Hunt nodded as she looked out over the sea through her spyglass.
"Pardon me Captain but, you dont sound too pleased to be here? Shouldn't we be happy for a break?" Garth asked in confusion. "After all, the crew haven't been off of this ship in months and we have no water left aboard."
"Should be, but not," she said then passed him a black telescope.
He took the device then looked in the direction Hunt pointed to out at sea. At first he saw nothing so moved it round a little. Suddenly, he spotted a second ship heading towards the docks thurther out.
"Is that who I think it is?" Garth asked, still looking through the scope.
"It is," she nodded sounding fare from pleased.
"Has he seen us?" Garth started as he closed the scope. "What would he be doing this fare in land?"
"No, he wont have seen us tucked in here," she said taking the scope back and looking through it. "I'm not sure. He's definitely heading to Port Tamaran but he's fare to wanted by authority's to risk a supply run in a place like this. I think he's going to attack."
"Attack?" Garth asked surprised and confused. "Why?"
"I'm not sure," she admitted putting down the scope. "Tell the men to sit tight and unseen. I don't want to see a single light on deck.
"Then what, Captain?" He asked.
"We wait," Hunt said simply.
"Yes Captain," Garth said then made his way down to the men.
"What are you up to Slade?" Captain Hunt asked herself as she looked through the scope once more. "Why are you here?"
It was a couple of hours later when the Four Swords finally dropped anchor a good half mile out to sea from Port Tamaran. It would be impossible for anyone on shore to see the ship as a large part of the islands rocky cliffs had covered the view from the docks but it was quite easy for the Noble Sea Dragon and its crew to see it from where they were. Serveral boats were then dropped filled with Slade's crew…
… "So… is that Captain Slade's ship?" Eric asked as the old man nodded. "So, are they going to attack Captain Slade then? Save the day?"
"No my boy," the old man said shaking his head. "Hunt wouldn't be so foolish to go attack the Four Swords like that."
"But… she does soon, right?" he asked.
"Yes, just not yet," he said. "Hunt back then was a small time pirate with a small time ship. Standing up against Slade would have been suicidal. At the moment, all the Captain wanted was a supply top up. They were dangerously low on water and the next docks were just over a week away."
"So why was Captain Slade thier?" John asked. "Was it a pillage?"
"Her crew seemed to think so but the Captain new better. She knew Slade enough to know he always had a reason for doing everything he did," he said. "Port Tamaran didn't lack in security and it was fare too risky just to pillage it. He was bound to loose men in the attack. There had to be more to it…
…"Captain," Garth called. "He's lowered nine ships filled with men."
"Let me see," she said taking the telescope and looking through at the larger ship.
"What do we do?" he asked looking up at her.
"We need water, we wont make it to the next it to next land without it," she said thinking. "If we send two boats out with a hand full of men to the left of the docks, we might be able to salvage what we need without being spotted. Slade's men and the guards will be fare too distracted with each other to notice us," she said looking over to the docks. "Plus, I want to know what he's up to."
"Sorry Captain?" Garth asked. "He's just raiding. That man just loves to kill and cause disaster. "
"Nobody just raids a place like Port Tamaran. It's too large and the army is too powerful to take such a risk," Hunt said turning to face him. "No matter how good he is, there's no way he'll be leaving Port Tamaran with out casualties," Captain Hunt said then began to head to the boats. "Prepare two boats and a handful of men to get ready to leave as soon as possible."
"Yes Captain," he said then headed off to follow her commands.
He set to work as quickly as he could and went round the men to find five that would be suitable to go to shore with the Captain. Over at Port Tamaran, in a large manna, Nightwing and Kori laid together in a large bed. Both entangled in each others limbs. A quiet ringing could be heard and Nightwing opened an eye and looked round. He could hear the faint sounds of alarms and screams coming from town before a louder and closer ringing hit the house.
"Pirates!" Kori said in shock as she sat up in bed.
"I've got to go help fight them off," Nightwing said sitting up.
"Be careful," she said as he started to get dressed.
"You be careful. Stay hidden and don't go into town no matter what," he said giving her a kiss before leaving through the glass doors and over the balcony as Kori looked for her own clothes.
He quickly made his was through the town and near the docks where he saw the already empty boats that the pirates had come in. he looked round and saw that they had already hit the docks, setting fire to the ships and killing the guards that were there. He rushed back into town and past the black smith's, where iside, Victor was fighting of a few pirates who had adventured into his shop in search for weapons.
"Get out of here!" he yelled swiping his hammer at one of them.
"Wahoo!" a sudden yell screamed from above as a large crate came flying down, flattening the pirate. "That was fun," Garfield said dizzily as he walked off the now smashed crate.
"Come on!" Victor said grabbing Garfield and running to the next building where his parents were.
"Wow," Garfield said looking at the destroyed building. "Vic!" he suddenly yelled, seeing an old lamp broken on the floor with the flame slowly burning up a large barrel of gunpowder.
"I've got to help my…" he started until Garfield pulled him back just in time as the gunpowder exsploded sending them into the air and over an old wooden.
Victor looked up to see bricks and bits of his parents house flying through the air all over. The building was in shatters and it was obvious that no one would have survived the blast. He stared wide eyed for a moment.
"No," he breathed looking at the building. "NO!!!" he yelled then ran over the cart and slammed his hammer in a pirate's chest before swinging it round to hit a second one in the side of the head.
"Vic?" Garfield called, terrified of his new friend's behaviour.
"Thier going to pay," he promised as he stood in front of the burning building. "Thier all going to die!"
"VIC!" Garfield yelled as a pirate flew off a building with his sword drawn ready to stab the black smith's son.
Victor turned round just in time to see the pirate fly suddenly to the side with an arrow sticking out of his chest. He looked to the side where the arrow had come from and saw a mediam hight figure with long white hair in a black jacket with a hood and bandanna covering the bottom of thier face. To thier side was three other men.
"I could have done that," one of the men standing to the right of the figure said as they were passed the crossbow. He wore a red shirt that was laced up at the front.
"Start paying attention and do your job then, Roy," the figure, who must have been the leader, said.
"Thiers more coming," one of the men stood at the back called as a handful of pirates was seen heading towards them. He wore a yellow sleeveless vest and red leather trousers. "Care to give us a hand?" he asked Victor and Garfield.
"My pleasure," Victor grawled in anger as he readied himself with the rest of the men and Garfield hid behind Victor.
Roy quickly reloaded the crossbow and took out the first of the pirates. The crew member in red leather trousers and the third male who had dark skin and wore a black shirt with a red bandanna, quickly darted foward and engaged two of the pirates. The last three charged towards Victor and Garfield. One raised his sword about to lash out but was stopped as the leader blocked the attack with a sword of her own. She had a second sword that she used to block another attack from a second pirate as the third pirate ran past and began to engage Victor. Victor used his hammer to deliver heavy blows which soon knocked the sword from the pirates hand. He then swung the hammer at the pirates legs knocking him to the floor before delivering a fatal blow. The leader didn't take long fighting the two pirates back before Roy shot an arrow in the back of one of them and the leader used both swords to slash the second one down. They looked up to see that red leather and bandanna had already took out thier pirates and was heading back to them. They all turned to look at the leader in black who was looking up at a large manna that was just out of town.
"Their heading for that manna," the leader said. "Who lives there?"
"The Duke and his family," Victor said looking up at the Manna.
"What purpose could he have their?" the leader asked, more to themselves than to Victor.
"Who?" a deep voice asked from above, sounding a little worried.
Everyone looked up to see a long haired male in a blue mask. Everyone watched as he leaped down from his hiding place and landed in front of them. He was face to face with the leader and wanting answers.
"NIGHTWING!!!" Garfield squealed in excitement.
"Who?!" Nightwing asked again paying no mind to Garfield as he grabbed the leaders jacket.
"Get the hell off me!" leader warned through gritted teeth before quickly pulling a fist round, shocking the hero as it hit him in the chest. "Never, and I mean never, touch me like that again," leader said adjusting thier jacket as Nightwing tried to catch his breath. "If you must know, It's Captain Slade. He's the one doing this attack on this city."
"Captain Slade?" Nightwing repeated, looking up at the leader who nodded.
"And he's making his way up to that manor," the pirate in red leather said pointing to the large manna.
"I have to stop him," Nightwing said quickly regaining himself before running up towards the manna.
"I'm going to," Victor said leaving Garfield with the men.
"Wally," the leader called looking at the pirate with the red leather trousers. "Take Roy and Isaiah with you back to the boat and help the others collect supplies. If I'm not back before you're finished or if Slade's men start to over run the docks again, head back for the ship."
"What will you be doing Captain?" he asked.
"I'm going to find out what Slade's up to," the leader said as Wally looked unsure but agreed.
Garfield looked round feeling a little lost what to do "What about me?" he asked as the leader looked down at him.
"You can help us if you wish? Could do with the extra hands," Wally said as Garfield thought for a moment before nodding and followed the men.
Nightwing had finally reached the manna. He saw a maid on the floor covered with blood. He couldn't be too late… could he? He charged up the stairs and slammed open the door to Kori's room. It was empty, and it was completely trashed.
"Kori!" he yelled but no answer came.
He carried on through several rooms and there was no sign of his love. He rushed back down stairs but stopped suddenly as he saw a door opening. He waited before jumping on the intruder before realising it was Victor.
"What are you doing!" Victor growled.
"Sorry, thought you was one of the pirates," Nightwing apologised.
"Well, where are they?" he asked, lifting up his hammer.
"Not here," Nightwing said with sorrow in his voice. "Everyone is either dead or gone."
"Gone?" Victor repeated. "Do you think they took them for ransom?"
"If they did, they would have took them back to the Four Swords," leader said entering the building and looking round at the mess.
"Well let's go get then," Nightwing said running to the leader with Victor following close behind.
"You go," leader said walking past them and thurther into the manor. "I'm not looking to get myself or my crew slaughtered."
"Your a coward?" Victor asked.
"No," leader said eyeing the male. "But this is not my fight. I saved you once already, I dont attend to keep doing so."
"I havnt got time for this," Nightwing spat before charging out of the door.
Victor gave the leader one final look before following the hero out and back to the docks. Leader then started to search the manor for clues to why Slade targeted the place. Heading up stairs, they pulled down thier bandana to reviel Captain Hunt. She quietly checked a few of the rooms only to find corpses and destruction. She was close to giving up and heading back when a noise caught her attention. She draw a blade and crept to the source of the sound. She looked round the doorway to see a man dragging himself across the hard wooden floor, a smear of blood following him. He was dressed in rich clothes and seemed to be trying to crawl to musket that was laid thurther up. Hunt stepped in and walked towards the musket and picked it up.
"No, please," the man begged as Hunt watched him for a moment before passing him the musket.
"I think you're going to need more than a gun," she said as he looked at her.
"I need to save my daughter," he said trying to sit up using a near by table to support himself.
"Your daughter?" Hunt asked.
"Kori," he gritted through clench teeth. The pain of his injures being pressent. "That bastard, Slade, he took Kori."
"Why would he take her?" She asked kneeling down in front of him. "Why's she so special?"
"The god damb curse!" He said angrily. "Another month and she would have been free of it but now hes going to use her."
"What are you talking about?" She asked unsure.
"This," he said grabbing a chain from round his neck and lifting it over his head. "I'm too weak to go after them, you have to save her... please."
"I'm not really into the occupation of saving people I'm afraid," she admitted as he handed her the chain.
"I think you'll find that it's in your best intrested to change your 'occupation' then," he said as she looked down at the chain that was attached to hexagon shapped golden pendants.
"Is this real?" Hunt asked, her voice now sounding worrried.
"You know do know of it then?" He asked with a weak grin. "I thought you might. You have to stop him, save my daughter."
Hunt didn't say another word as she stood and quickly made her way out of the manor and back to the docks. Her men were still loading the boats when Nightwing and Victor reached them.
"Where's Slade?" Nightwing demanded.
"I don't know," Wally said looking up at him. "I saw a few of his men take some of the boats though."
"Was Slade with them?" He asked in a rush.
"I don't know, been a little busy here, lad," Wally shrugged.
"Did you at least see if they had a girl with them," he asked in panic.
"Yes," Wally nodded.
"I have to get to her," he said looking round at the docks for transport to the ship.
"He's sunk all the ships and boats on dock," Roy pointed out as Nightwing turned to face him.
"Then let me use your boat," he demanded to him.
"We need these," Wally said as the other members of the crew stood between Nightwing and the boats with weapons drawn. "Thier full of supplies and they aint going to Slade's ship."
"I need to get to Slade," Nightwing grawled.
"Well good luck mate but thats not our problem," Roy said standing his ground to the hero.
"CAPTAINS COMING!" Isaiah shouted as Captain Hunt could be seen running to them.
"Get the boats ready to go," Roy comanded to the men as he still watched Nightwing incase he tried anything.
"Can we at least come with you?" Victor asked as Garfield looked over to him.
"Do you know what we really are?" Wally asked him as Victor shrugged.
"Pirate's," Garfield said as everyone looked at him. "I saw your mark when you picked up one of the barrels with me."
"Smart boy," Roy said as Victor drew out his hammer. "Put it away. We had nothing to do with your parent's death. We we're just at the wrong place at the wrong time."
"Or the right place at the right time," Hunt said finally reaching them. "Get everyone back to the ship, the armies will be here soon."
"They want to join us," Roy said pointing to Garfield and Victor.
"Fine, but you better hurry up and get on this boat," she said as her crew leaped on and one of the boats began to set off.
"You coming?" Garfield asked.
"I'm not so sure now, thier pirates," Victor admitted.
"No offence Vic but, you've got nothing left here now," Garfield said as Victor thought for a moment.
"Okay, lets go," he nodded and then both climbed in.
"Lets go," Captain Hunt comanded as the rest of the men began to row only for the boat to come to a Sudden stop forcing them all to have to catch thier balance and Garfield to almost fall off where he was still sat.
"Your not going anywhere, pirates," Nightwing said holding the rope for the boats.
"What are you doing?" Hunt growled at him.
"Your pirates, I can't let you go," he said as she stood and drew her swords.
"Get off," she warned as everyone looked from the two.
"I'm placing you under arrest," Nightwing stared.
"That's it," she said then ran across the boat and leaped off lashing out her foot and kicking Nightwing hard enough to make him let go of the rope. She then turned round to her crew and gave a nod to Wally to carry on his rowing back to the ship. "Why don't you calm down, boy," she said to Nightwing as he stood up.
"You're a pirate…" he started.
"But not the one you want," she said, stopping him. "Your wasting your time attacking me. I didn't take the girl. He did!" she said pointing over to the orange and black ship that several small boats were making their way towards.
"Then help me go after him," he pleaded. "Get me to his ship."
"No," she said simply as Nightwing looked at her. "You're not strong enough to take on Slade. It's suicide for both you and my crew if we help you."
"Then let me come with you," he begged.
"I didn't come here to get a new crew," the Captain said sounding annoyed. "Or get the one I have killed."
"I'll leave your crew soon," he offered. "I just want to get close to Slade so I can…"
"Can what, boy?" a calm and almost evil sounding voice said from behind them.
They turned to see a man in an orange jacket and a black and orange mask covering his face. He was stood no more than a few metres away from them.
"Shit," Hunt cursed backing up slightly away from Nightwing while Slade advanced towards them.
"Hello there Alice, looking well I see," he said as she watched him carfully. "Must admit, this is a surprise. "
"Not a pleasent one, I assure you," she said then turned round about to escape into the sea only to be stopped by a female with pink hair that was up in two horns. The women had snuck up behind them while they we're too distracted with Slade.
"Been a while, Alice," she purred with a playfully look in her eye.
"Jinx's," Hunt said suprised, looking at the women before her.
"The one and only," she grinned like a Cheshire cat.
"Where's Kori!?" Nightwing yelled at Captain Slade.
"Who?" he asked in the same calm voice.
"Don't play dumb with me, Slade," he spat angirly, getting ready to attack.
"Captain," Hunt warned Nightwing who didn't seem to care. "He doesn't like having his title messed with."
"Why? Will he cry?" Nightwing mocked.
"No, but you will," Captain Slade said grabbing Nightwing round the neck before he could react.
He lifted the young hero up by his throat and began to tighten his grip. Hunt stepped forwards, unsure what she was going to do to help till she felt Jinx take hold of her and turned her round so they were both face to face once more.
"What happened?" Jinx asked quietly as Captain Slade was too busy with Nightwing to hear them. "Why did you leave us? Leave me?" she asked looking hurt.
"It wasn't my choice," Captain Hunt said feeling pained at the hurt in the other womens face.
"I didn't know what happened to you. I came back and you was gone," Jinx said upset. "Slade said you left us."
"Slade said that did he?" Hunt scoffed shaking her head. "The man's unhinged, Jinx. You need to get away from him, come join me and my crew before he gets you killed."
"What are you talking about?" Jinx asked looking confused..
"I havn't got time for this," she said noticing Nightwing turning blue. "I'm sorry," Hunt added as Jinx's raised a eyebrow before being shoved into the sea.
Captain Hunt then quickly charged into Captain Slade, the sudden force making him drop Nightwing and quickly grabbing the hero by the shoulder and dragged him back to the edge of the dock before pushing him in and jumping in after. Jinx had just managed to pull herself back up on the dock as she turned to watch the two swim off towards the boats. Slade lifted himself up and pointed to the two swimmers.
"After them..." he started before a connon ball flew past him narrowly missing him.
Wood flew into the air as Captain Slade and Jinx quickly tried to take in what was happening. The Nobel Sea Dragon had advanced to the docks and had fired a warning shot giving Hunt time to get back to the boats and row back to the ship. Jinx walked to him as she tried to ring out her hair of the salty water.
"Thats the last time Alice," Captain Slade snarled. "You will be mine," he promised as Jinx watched Captain Hunt leave once again.
"What have you done, Alice?" she asked herself as she saw Hunt's boat finally reach the ship and begin to climb the rope ladder up with Nightwing not fare behind…
…"So they made it out alive?" Eric asked happily.
"They were lucky," the old man nodded. "Captain Slade was too fare from his ship to dish out orders to attack the Noble Sea Dragon plus, the armies were getting close so he had to get back to his own ship and set sail."
"And Jinx and Captain Hunt? They use to work togeather or somthing?" John asked curiously.
"Yes," the old man nodded. "They were once Captain Slade's most powerful crew member. He would keep them at his side as his right hand men... or women should I say? Alice had left them about eight years before this story, when she was only 17 and Jinx was 16. Hunt was even the Quartermaster till she left and Jinx took over her role," he said then took a puff of his pipe.
"So… what happened?" Eric asked.
"That'll have to wait for another day," the old man said as everyone looked at him wide eyed.
"What?" John said. "You're just going to leave us hanging again?" he asked.
"Yep," he said standing up and then gave them all a small salute. "Till tomorrow boys," he said then walked off leaving the men and Eric.